Part 2:  The Diaspora
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(The opinions and views expressed in the commentaries and letters to the Editor of The Somerville Times belong solely to the authors and do not reflect the views or opinions of The Somerville Times, its staff or publishers)

From the late 19^th Century onward, developers sought to build on every available parcel of Somerville land. More often than not, city officials accommodated them.

Combining this with the attractions of affordable housing, ethnic enclaves, and a thriving industrial economy made Somerville the most densely populated American city at the middle of the 20^th Century.

Paul A. DiPasquale– Of Somerville February 4, 2016. Boston College Graduate Class of 1961. Beloved husband of Julia (Tarpey) DiPasquale. Loving father of Patricia DiPasquale, Pamela DiPasquale and her husband Daniel Bracken, Julie Jasper and her husband Robert, Maryanne DiPasquale and Karen DiPasquale. Brother of Robert G. DiPasquale, Edward DiPasquale and his wife Jean, Mary Lou Driscoll and her husband William and the late Dr. Pasquale DiPasquale Jr., Rev. Ralph DiPasquale, OFM and Leonard DiPasquale. Brother in law of Eileen and Francis Bakey, John and Mary Tarpey, Michael Tarpey and Debra Sousa. Cherished grandfather of Brier and Baird Bracken. Also survived by many nieces and nephews.

All cars must be moved by 4 a.m. to avoid ticketing and towing. Somerville Public Schools closed Friday.

In accordance with the city’s Snow Emergency Procedures, Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone has declared a snow emergency for the City of Somerville to go into effect at 12 a.m. on Fri., Feb. 5 (midnight on Thurs., Feb. 4).  During snow emergencies, parking is allowed on the odd-numbered side of the street only (unless otherwise posted). Cars not moved by 4 a.m. Fri. morning will be subject to ticketing and towing. Residents unable to find a parking space on the odd-numbered side of the street may park in any municipal or school parking lot for the duration of the emergency. Full snow emergency and snow removal policies may be found on the City’s website at www.somervillema.gov/snow.

The Boston Science Fiction Film Festival and Marathon (“Boston SciFi”) is an 11-day cinematic event held at the historic Somerville Theatre from February 5th to the 15th. The 2016 edition marks their 41st anniversary as the oldest genre fest in America.

The first nine days consist of a film festival that emphasizes emerging directors with distinct visions from around the globe. The Festival concludes with The Marathon (a.k.a., “The ‘Thon”), a 24-hour orgiastic motion picture endurance test featuring classic, new and schlock films. Think of it as binge viewing with 750 close friends. It starts at noon on the 14th and ends at noon on President’s Day.

By Jim Clark

Police were dispatched to a Line St. location last Friday evening on reports that a man had thrown something through a residence window.

Upon arrival, the responding officers observed a group of males surrounding a man outside of the residence in question.

(The opinions and views expressed in the commentaries and letters to the Editor of The Somerville Times belong solely to the authors and do not reflect the views or opinions of The Somerville Times, its staff or publishers)

To the Editor:

Over the last few months, I’ve been serving as a strategy leader for the LOCUS process that is advising the city of Somerville on a public benefits strategy related to Union Square’s redevelopment. It has given me much insight into the goals of this diverse and civically minded community; specifically, the goal of ensuring that a range of housing options are made available at multiple levels of affordability.

By Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone

(The opinions and views expressed in the commentaries and letters to the Editor of The Somerville Times belong solely to the authors and do not reflect the views or opinions of The Somerville Times, its staff or publishers)

I do, and I hear constantly from people who feel the same way. Somerville is not some cookie cutter community with subdivisions and chain stores sprawling across it, where you only see your neighbors when you drive past each other. We’re not like everywhere else. We live closer together. We live above and below each other. So we get to know the people in our neighborhood, and in a lot of cases they’re people we’d have never met anywhere else. Stories abound of strangers living in two- and three-families who connected and now take care of each other like family. Others share yards, street parties and play groups. We may not think about it too often, but the shape and form of Somerville’s neighborhoods are a big part of what builds such walkable, interesting and tight-knit communities here.

Capen Court volunteers, Peggy Kneeland and Pauline Ghiozzi, present sheets and blankets to veterans and staff at the Massachusetts Bay Veterans Center.

By Louise Carpenter

In December, residents at the Somerville Housing Authority’s Capen Court held a successful holiday bazaar in the spirit of giving back during the winter season. Residents chose to donate all proceeds to formerly homeless veterans living at the Massachusetts Bay Veterans Center in Somerville.

David Campbell, Cynthia Maurice and Marjorie Kaye, Director of Galatea Fine Arts Gallery, Boston, a cooperative gallery where Cynthia is a member.

By Sanjeev Selvarajah

Two of Brickbottom Gallery’s founding members, with heart, and theme have traced the story of Somerville’s landscape from scratch; Cynthia Maurice and David Campbell present a different kind of exhibit, lasting till February 27 – Out the Window and Around the Town; their work tracks the development of Somerville from a Village of creativity to a Hub of industrial growth, such as the Green Line Extension, among other planned constructions.

By Ben Echevarria and David Gibbs, on behalf of the Union United Coalition

(The opinions and views expressed in the commentaries and letters to the Editor of The Somerville Times belong solely to the authors and do not reflect the views or opinions of The Somerville Times, its staff or publishers)

Last week, in the midst of discussions about open space, jobs, and place management, one thing was clear: a real community benefits agreement requires an independent community body. The “strategy leaders” chosen by the mayor to participate in the LOCUS process raised serious concerns about the ability of the SRA to act in accordance with the wishes of the Union Square community.